Bryan Clauson

Infobox_NASCAR_driver
Name = Bryan Clauson
Birthdate = birth date and age|1989|6|15
Birthplace = Carmichael, California
Busch_Car_Team = #40 - Chip Ganassi Racing
First_Busch_Race = 2007 Emerson Radio 250 (Richmond)
Prev_Busch_Year = 2007
Prev_Busch_Pos = 76th
Best_Busch_Pos = 76th - 2007 (Busch Series)
Busch_Top_Tens = 2
Updated_On = February 17, 2008

Bryan Clauson, born in Sacramento, California on June 15, 1989, is an American auto racing driver. He is a member of the Chip Ganassi Racing driver development program.

Clauson made his USAC National Sprint Series debut just two days after his 16th birthday on June 17, 2005 at Limaland Motorsports Park, Ohio garnering a third place podium finish. On October 8, 2005, Clauson won the Open Wheel Oktoberfest Midget race at Columbus Motor Speedway, Ohio, becoming the youngest driver in USAC history to win a National feature event at 16 years, three months and 23 days of age. On August 12, 2006, Clauson recorded a historic USAC Sprint/Midget doubleheader "sweep" at Salem Speedway, Indiana winning both the 30-lap Midget race and 50-lap Sprint race held the same night, only the 24th such sweep in USAC history.

On August 31st, Clauson scored his first career ARCA win at the Gateway International Raceway. Two months later he began competing in the NASCAR Busch Series, driving the #41 Memorex Dodge Charger for Chip Ganassi. He competed full-time during the 2007 season in the USAC National Sprint and Midget Series as part of the Keith Kunz Motorsports stable.

Despite his move to NASCAR, Clauson returned to his dirt-track roots on Jan. 12, racing in the Chili Bowl, an indoor Midget race in Tulsa, Okla., featuring some of the top names in racing, such as Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Jason Leffler, Gary Scelzi, Cruz Pedregon, and Tim McCreadie. After starting the feature mid-pack, he finished fourth overall.

In 2008, Clauson started the season in the #41 Polaroid/Texaco Havoline Dodge for Ganassi in the Nationwide Series, but was replaced by Kyle Krisiloff. He now drives the #40 Fastenal entry for Ganassi, filling in for Dario Franchitti in select races. He won his 1st pole at Daytona in July, but was replaced Full-Time by Franchitti the week after.

He was set to make his Cup debut at the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway driving the #40 Target Dodge but qualifying was rained out and the team, which did not have enough owner points, did not qualify.

External links

* [http://www.bryanclauson.com Bryan Clauson.com]
* [http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=clausbr01 Bryan Clauson Racing Statistics]